5 Psychology Terms You’re Probably Misusing (Replay)

We all like to throw around terms that describe human behavior — “bystander apathy” and “steep learning curve” and “hard-wired.” Most of the time, they don’t actually mean what we think they mean. But don’t worry — the experts are getting it wrong, too.

SOURCES:Sharon Begley • , senior science writer for Stat • at The Boston Globe • . Jerome Kagan • , emeritus professor of psychology at Harvard University. Bibb Latané • , social psychologist and senior fellow at the Center for Human Science. Scott Lilienfeld • , professor of psychology at Emory University. James Solomon • , director and producer of The Witness • .

RESOURCES: • “ Tech Metaphors Are Holding Back Brain Research • ,” by Anna Vlasits ( Wired • , 2017). Can’t Just Stop: An Investigation of Compulsions • , by Sharon Begley (2017). The Witness • , film by James Solomon (2016). • “ Fifty Psychological and Psychiatric Terms to Avoid: a List of Inaccurate, Misleading, Misused, Ambiguous, and Logically Confused Words and Phrases • ,” by Scott Lilienfeld, Katheryn Sauvigne, Steven Jay Lynn, Robin Cautin, Robert Latzman, and Irwin Waldman ( Frontiers in Psychology • , 2015). SuperFreakonomics • , by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner (2011). Fifty Great Myths of Popular Psychology • , by Scott Lilienfeld, Steven Jay Lynn, John Ruscio, and Barry Beyerstein (2009). Train Your Mind, Change Your Brain • , by Sharon Begley (2007). • “ Kitty, 40 Years Later • ,” by Jim Rasenberger (The New York Times, • 2004). • “ 37 Who Saw Murder Didn’t Call the Police • ,” by Martin Gansberg ( The New York Times • , 1964).

EXTRAS: • " Academic Fraud • ," series by Freakonomics Radio • (2024). • “ This Idea Must Die • ,” Freakonomics Radio • (2015).

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